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When it comes to designing things for city living, whether it’s the infrastructure or even little details—like park benches or public washrooms, you expect they will be made with people in mind. But it turns out that’s often far from the case.

Recently, Sahra Sulaiman, the communities editor for Streetsblog L.A., shared an illuminating thread about soap dispensers in LAX bathrooms. “The worker struggling to refill soaps in the LAX bathroom said she just wished architects and designers consulted with the workers that had to maintain the spaces about whether their form would actually be functional,” she wrote in a tweet amassing 126k likes.

Soon it became clear that Sahra is not the only one frustrated by how nonfunctionally public spaces are sometimes designed. More people joined the thread to share their own observations and experiences, so dear designers and architects, please take notes!

Image credits: sahrasulaiman

#1

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

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Danish Dynomummy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yeah the neverending ponytail and bun struggle is real... my SO always tells me I look like the Bendneck Lady when I drive lol

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Urban design is concerned with the arrangement, appearance and function of our suburbs, towns and cities. It is both a process and an outcome of creating localities in which people live, engage with each other, and engage with the physical place around them in the modern world.

According to the United Nations (U.N.), 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050, compared with 2% at the beginning of the 19th century, 30% in 1950 and 55% in 2018. The current urbanization is represented in hard-to-believe figures. The world’s largest city, Tokyo, which had a population of roughly 37 million in 2020, is expected to be overtaken in 2028 by New Delhi, the capital of India.

#2

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

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Victor Trejo
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, in Japan, bathrooms have a sort of ledge where you can place your stuff while using the urinals. There are also hooks to hang your umbrella or bags.

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#3

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

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Brian Bennett
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because that would be using common sense! Apparently this too is a waning commodity!

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Rozie Royall
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They built a brand new parking area for tour buses at Stonehenge a few years back, with a turning circle too small for the buses to turn around without doing a three point turn. Specifically for buses, didn't think to measure a bus! 😂

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Chris Lee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I worked for TfL, I encountered similar problems on a daily basis when 3rd parties designed London's bus stations. Turning circles too tight, buses passing too close for safety and the favourite, 3 buses parked a foot behind each other - try and get the middle one out! I now teach bus infrastructure design and the most valuable module features actual driving footage showing just how much room buses need to manoeuvre, and why.

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rob buitenhuis
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THIS,,,, as a truckdriver myself,,, i find this kind of things very important,,,, i once came at a store where they made a loadingarea indoors that was curved,,, very nice indeed, you drive in and drive out at the other site,,,, great thougt yes???? NNNOOOO, the first semitruck that went in wetched itself against both wallls,,, turns out the curve was too sharp for trucks,,, good god,,,, who was the architect there? i am sure he had NEVER looked closely to a semitruck, the FFing Idiot.

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CP Wood
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the architect was going with the old " if it don't fit, force it" design? Lol!

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Skull in Sky
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a building systems engineer who did study architecture and engineering as well. I'm well aware of this problematic and I'll just say: Architect oftentimes has no idea or is hugely limited by regulations, investor or the site.

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Daniel Kerr
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do they have a 300 (Junior) Level course for architects about regulations, how to find them, and how to design for them? Too early, and the students forget. Too late and their mindset can't be changed.

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MuddyPuddles
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

just had a huge Warehouse built at my place if work, right next to the main entrance (which happens to be right on a roundabout and queues often end up bringing said roundabout to a standstill) first thing I asked was "where will the lorries park up and wait when all loading bays and weighbridge are in use or if there are delays?" - Planners didn't think of that did they. DOH

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Kai David
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My favorite are British architects designing and building facilities in the USA. Built for British Left side driving and 30 foot rigs compared to right side driving and 45 foot rigs. One facility in Yypsy-yea, that muffler company, have to back off the state route for about a mile to get to recieving. Then have to drive through gardens, into employee parking lot in order to get rig backed into dock

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Krzystofersson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

45ft is Mickey Mouse - in Australia we have B-triple trucks that are 36.5m (120ft) and in regional/interstate roads road trains which are up to 53.5m (175ft long). Clearly the British (joke) standard is designed for London buses / fixed axle lorries.

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Abdul Khan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I drive a truck. How many people design these things for small box trucks when the company orders full sized semis is mind boggling. 53 foot boxes and 30 foot trucks are not the same as a small straight truck.

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Cheryl Denton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^ Truck drivers should not have to do crazy s**t just to back into the dang loading docks! Especially if there is more than one dock and another driver is already there.

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Mike Loux
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The folks at H-E-B (incredibly awesome grocery chain here in Texas) definitely took that into account, but they appear to be the exception, not the rule. There's a separate entrance for delivery trucks, located far away from the customer parking lot. However, people don't always realize that it's NOT a shortcut behind the store, and we often see cars come backing out of there, followed by a semi truck that's trying to leave. So, the opposite problem, I guess.

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Misty Pendergrast
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huh. All of the stores around here have the loading docks in the back of the store with a separate entrance to the lot, with ample space for the trucks to maneuver around to access the docks.

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Sabs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have a grocery store that once upon a time had a good entrance and lots of room for semis to turn in, turn around and dock at the delivery bays with ease. Then one day a construction company came along and built a small strip mall like building inside that space eliminating the trucks ability to manoeuvre, they now have to turn and back in from the street and hold up traffic for 10-15 minutes, and lots of damage to both buildings over the years from trucks getting jammed.

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Antoine Gagnon
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This not solely on the architects tbh. In all architecture projects, the clients impose restrictions and as much as the architect want to make things better, if the client refuses, their hands are tied.

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Andy Grontkowski
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Civil engineers would be doing this work. Most likely NOT architects. Also sometimes the store layout, which now many times is laid out by the store management and their in house design team makes these decisions before involving local architect and civil staff.

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Doesn’t Care
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a truck driver. That ones usually on the truck driver. Believe it or not, most truck drivers suck at their job. When I took my class one license it was a 16 hour course. Even still some buy it because they can't pass the course.

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Amber Bedard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I COMPLETELY AGREE. So many s**t drivers. I rode OTR with my ex for 9 months. Seen a lot if stupidity.

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Max Robitzsch
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They do ask us (transport engineer here) but they also tend to want the biggest truck possible (fewer drivers to pay!) and use the least amount of space - so we can sometimes do a lot of computer vehicle tracking and the outcome remains poor.

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A P
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tbf, a lot of stores are in buildings that were designed and built when the traffic involved was probably a tenth of what it is now, and the roads around it may have been quite different as well, and the number of deliveries that came in were much lower. On the other hand, plent of brand new stores are as poor functionally as well. And sometimes it's that they're trying to fit a store they expect to service 20,000 people on a lot that can't realistically handle more than 10,000.

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Csaba Horvath
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A good city planning policy contains statements about turning radiuses and keepout areas, so things like this do not happen.

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Richard Eisenmenger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Older grocery stores weren't designed with the 40 ft tractor trailer in mind because they didn't exist back then for grocery stores.

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Dennis Heizelman
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not always the architect. Sometimes the owners force them to lay things out like that for cost or a aestetical reasons.

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Donald Holder
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey. Should be praising the drivers. If it only takes them 10 minutes to backup a semi straight and positioned right then you're being blessed. I've seen some who take 20 plus still don't get it flush with the loading dock.

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Zia Ray
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because they would either have to pay them or it would take too much time and it isn't seen as important. And by too much time, I mean by their strict schedules.

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Jen M
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most stores and warehouses have a truck loading bay. Maybe not smaller stores.

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Julie Ham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because common sense and logic Can't be quantified, measured, and displayed on a spreadsheet or profits report. But al long as the CEOs and investors are happy.....

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CJ Kelly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's why places with lots like that often get their deliveries outside of business hours.

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Payden Bradley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of older storefronts we're also designed ages ago when trailers were smaller. Semi trailers have gotten longer over the years. 40' to 45' to now 53' but seriously f the guys that decide where to put parking lot lights.

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Rick Drew
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blame the zoning board and inspectors. Many require the loading docks to be in a certain location, usually in back.

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IamMe
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seems like the easiest solution to this would be to just move the entrance to the parking lot, or make it big enough for the trucks to get in.

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Kristen Adorno
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never seen this problem anywhere near me in Georgia.. but im out in rural Georgia where land is in abundance so maybe this happens in bigger cities? I could see this happening in Atlanta where Publix and walmart are 3 stories.

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Lin Collins
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't suppose requiring the truck driver to actually know how to drive occurred to anyone.

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RandomFrog
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg this reminds me at my school you have the band storage room and the door swings so it blocks of the main hallway. And the hallway is wide enough, but it makes it so you can’t see anyone coming to the room and nobody can get out, and to make it worse it’s right next to the cafeteria so if you have band fourth period you have to get through everyone trying to come out of the cafeteria to get to class WITH your instrument

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Harold Hubbard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some municipalities have absurd limits on the allowable width of curb cuts.

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Passivepagan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't even need to ask if you look at the design logically and consider every single factor down to the smallest detail, such as delivery entrance vs public entrances and roadways. No grocery store needs 10k parking spots. Utilize that extra space in the design stage to allow for easy, instructing, delivery space instead of just filling it in with extra parking that will never be used.

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Kim Lorton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every good design … someone asked who where and when and what will be it’s purpose and does that purpose work. Those architects and designers are the ones who need to win the awards!

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Peter Lee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

MY Dad worked at a large multinational that built a purpose designed building that had the loading dock down a long enclosed driveway with no turn around area. not only could only 1 truck come in at a time, the entrance was on a busy road which the truck has to turn sideways (and block traffic) across to be able to reverse down the driveway

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Ja R
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

just like the fed and state regulators who put all the rules on truckers and trucks. it looks like the regulators and rule makers have never even sat in a truck let alone ever ridden in one for a typical day

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Paul Z.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, but then it wouldn't be esthetically pleasing, now would it...🤨

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Quentin ingulfumble
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Theoretically consulting truckers shouldnt be needed. We know how big trucks are and how much space they take. Somebody hasnt thought about it plain and simple. Which is a shame really since that is literally what they do for a living.

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Kisses4Katie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve always said parking lots are designed by the engineers/architects with the worst grades

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Shreeky
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Walmart has signs saying where to go for their truck deliveries including which entrance is truck friendly BUT they apparently either they can't read damn signs or they don't care. We used to have truck drivers park in front of the store in the mornings blocking the entrance when there's signs telling them to DRIVE to the BACK of the store to the docks(this includes venders)

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Shawn Barry
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

as a truck driver there are so many architects/planners I would love to kick in the nuts. and that's just the ones in Omaha Ne

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RU Sirius
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because they don't have to. The correct sizes for turns are specified in the design standards. You just need to pick the right ones and follow them. But I don't think the designers are a problem here. Money drives actual construction solution. Either wanted to save money or were limited in space

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Denis Folcik
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They don't care about the drivers. I've been to places where you have to shut down the road to get a truck in, or a place where you have like 2 inches of clearance on each side.

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Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having been in bands for 30+ years of my life, why do bar owners situate the stage at the opposite end of the building from the door?! Band equipment is large, cumbersome, and heavy. If you're going to put the stage at the back of the bar, then install a loading door near it.

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Vicki Barnes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same reason hospitals design units that are not very functional for Nurses and staff. Those designing have never taken care of sick or injured patients. They are as clueless as the hospital administration.

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Joe Dawson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the buildings too. 90% of buildings are designed with the common 63 foot truck and trailer in mind but in the other 10% those were designed in the 50s and 60s when big rigs were just getting started and had trailer and truck total lengths og maybe 70 foot not the 80 plus feet of today

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Kismet Sarken
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a truck driver, I have had this same exact thought too many times to count.

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Joseph Federico
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That would be too much effort. It's all about getting ti done as fast as you can without caring about the result. It doesn't matter if it works as long as it's done then who cares.

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Witchy Fur Momma
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At my job, I kid you not, the loading dock is the width of the sidewalk AND at a 45° angle so the trucks have to block one of the main streets when backing up or pulling out......

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Tony Muratori
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a straight truck driver, and one of my stops has an awning next to the dock. It is about 13 feet from the ground. Semi trailers are 13'4", to this awning is tore up. Poor planning.

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Amber Bedard
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I rode in a semi with my Ex for 9 months OTR all over the USA. Most loading docks that are tight like that are in old cities like Boston or something where buildings and streets were not designed for semi trucks. Also, A HUGE problem being in a truck is just the sheer amount of people that stop at the light past the line. When vehicles do that, it makes it incredibly hard to turn and then either the truck is backing up a bunch or everyone at the red light is. So.... STAY BEHIND THE LINES AT RED LIGHTS PEOPLE!

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Mahogany Eclipse
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! I always feel bad for the truckers and the trapped people waiting on him whenever I see that.

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Debbie Burton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep the local bottle shop is at the very entrance to the carpark.... delivery trucks have to go towards the carpark and back in so they block the IN and OUT of the whole carpark.... not their fault at all.... it's hell when there is a truck for the Grocery store AND the bottle shop

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Richard Grant
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dollar Generals are the worst. One way in, hardly any room for a semi truck to turn around, just awful.

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Rachel Walsh
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a Target in DE that moved into an old movie theater and the big stock trucks have to load from a doc in the front. Its super dangerous when they're there because they have to pull into the parking lot where toddlers are walking with their parents and then they have to back into a port not 10 feet from the main doors.

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Heath Keefer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it is assumed if one driver can get in and out quickly, then everyone else can too.

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Rob Davison
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That almost sounds like the Costco I go to, they have parking spaces usually filled with employees' cars directly in front of the very busy dock for semi-trucks delivering product. Those happen to be the closet to the door that many of the employees use and watching truckers try to get around them is a time-consuming show.

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Dalton McCord
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once worked at a gas station and the tanker came by at 4 in the afternoon and I had to stand outside and tell people don't park there so the tanker couldn't come give us gas. The parking lot was very small. Usually it wasn't an issue because we were usually the last stop of the day and the tanker would come around 11 or midnight

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An Co
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Often there is not enough space to put a semi-truck anywhere - unless you eliminate parking spaces.

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Cactus McCoy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Simple. Dock area cannot be sold or rented out and earns no money. Same reason because "event hotels" often have no storage area for empty cases of external tech companies. Storage earns no money.

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Tamie Hamilton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd ask an engineer or architect myself, if I can could reach one, in their gated communities, lux apartments with concierges, an generally out of touch secretary, receptionist, domestic help filled white towers.

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Liesl English
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2 years ago

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Persephone
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think they just think about the width and height of the truck. Not the space they need to maneuver. My bf is a truck driver and I've seen him having to make multiple maneuvers, using the space up to almost 5 cm left between the vehicle and the obstacle. Even watching that was nerve wracking.

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People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

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NsG
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There shouldn't have been a fight because it shouldn't have been an "if". The discussion should have started from "where do we put the disposal?"

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But you don’t have to look at metropolises to realize how much and how fast our environment is changing. Pick just about any city, the one that you live in right now, and it will seem both familiar and new at the same time. So today designers and urban planners face incredible challenges—to make sure the public spaces, infrastructure, and resources cater to the people who live there.

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CLG
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are indeed the worst, and seem to be popular with "sleek" contemporary designs. A huge sink with the spout reaching 1" past the edge so you have to press your hands against the side of the basin to access the water.

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Chich
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My one experience with what I now take to be a purse hook was when they were installed on the face of the bar just where your knee would find them when sitting on the stool.

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There are many ways to approach urban development that promote healthy living and longevity through a variety of design practices. Areas called “Blue Zones” are one of them. Dan Buettner, the author of the concept who wrote about for National Geographic, found that these communities had lower incidents of cancer and heart disease, fewer cases of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a higher percentage of the population in their 90s and 100s, and were generally happier.

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Ozacoter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In general things are designed with the worst way for handicap people. Urban architects and engineers should live a month in a wheelchair or with a stroller before they do things. For example the metro at my parents city is """adapted""" for us, they put a beautiful sticker and cheered of how amazing they are. The metros are taller than the platforms and it leaves a small step. Small enough that a walking person wont notice but bit enough that my disabilities scotter cannot get there...

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#9

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Danish Dynomummy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BP taught me that those gaps in the stalls i an American thing. Sooo happy we dont have those

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According to Joe Pobiner, Planning and Urban Design expert and advisor, urban design that follows the concept of Blue Zones includes: walkable environments to reduce the need for cars; increased vertical density and mixed-use diversity to encourage walking; a mix of housing options to encourage a multi-generational population; a mix of development types beyond residential and office spaces; local gathering places, parks, and plazas; locally owned farm-to-table restaurants; community gardens and rooftop gardens, and so on.

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Jess
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wasteful and disgusting. Flushing sends up particles into the air and can spread across the bathroom so you breathe in the aerosolized waste or the potentially harmful bacteria/viruses from stool, urine, vomit...

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Mr Neil
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bring a roll of blue painters tape and put a piece over the sensor while you clean then move it to the next toilet when you finish that one. It will keep it from flushing

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#13

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

BreadMeat Report

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Steffen Rehm
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, we got a new delivery ramp years back, so we do not need to use the public entrance anymore. Turns out we use the public entrance since them anyways, because the ramp is highly unsafe and horrible to work with. The architect is still mad at us, he think, it was a great idea.

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Pobiner argues that today, walkability and access to green spaces are top selling points. “Buyers want neighborhoods that offer new architecture, land uses, and technology—areas that create 'intelligent' density conducive to walking and biking, and that are less costly and more sustainable,” he explains.

#14

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

ShekinahCanCook Report

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Francis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my bf who is a chef also hates sinks that are to small for a very large pot and/or too far away from the stove so that you have to carry the big, full and therefor heavy pot to the stove. it's something he hates in his professional kitchen and in our ymall privat one LOL

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#15

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

Lenabanks4real Report

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Brian Bennett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't hang it on the hook at the top of the door if it has one - it can be reached by a determined thief. And who wants to put it on the floor

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#16

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

emmmmmmber Report

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Pamda Panda
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to get a glob of soap on my hands and let a little girl swipe it off because the soap dispensers were impossible for her to reach. This was at a ski resort, with ski schools and everything. Main lodge at the bottom of the mountain

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#17

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

biancaanchor Report

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Big Blue Cat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, place where I used to work had floor to ceiling glass walls on conference rooms. Then they had to add curtains because you know, sometimes you might be sharing something you can't announce to the whole company. Also it is a distraction when you are in a meeting in a glass cube and you see people outside the cube passing by.

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#18

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

snittens Report

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Mark Vosters
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And how about designing parking lots in northern climates that snow plows can actually maneuver around

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#19

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

k_fernholz Report

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Ogre Juan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A Brand High School (1991) Had A Chemistry Lab With An Emergency Shower But NO Floor Drain--Contaminated Water Everywhere

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#20

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

tealwaxelbaum Report

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Jenn C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At my McDonald's the stall is so short they had to cut a hole in the door so it could swing past the toilet when it opened. You had to stand beside the toilet to get in or out.

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#22

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

MissKitTKat1 Report

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John Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have repeatedly seen paper towel dispensers that you grab the towel to pull some out, but the damn thing is set so tight all you get is a very small handful of paper. Bloody useless.

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#23

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

NotAcquiescing Report

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Eucritta
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And/or there's a 'vessel sink' like a honking great mixing bowl on a high counter. I've thought, I hope whoever designed this mess has to use this very bathroom when they're old and arthritic, and see how -they- like it.

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#24

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

BobOzier Report

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Carbonel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve heard about lots of school libraries that were centrally placed in their buildings …fantastic! Centrally placed in an atrium … not fantastic. (No walls = no crowd control, no noise control, no stock control…)

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#25

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

belehakalife Report

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Nicole A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At a school I taught in they put the drains in the center but sloped the floors UPWARDS towards the drains. So nothing would run in the drain unless the entire room was flooded with 1.5 inches of liquid. Our poor janitor was always fighting with the bathrooms and especially the ones for the little kids with bad aim. He'd have to hose the floor down and then sweep the pissy water towards the drains for a half hour to attempt to clean things.

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#26

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

Wishful_Thinker Report

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Ogre Juan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disney Had A Coaster W/ Animatronic Bigfoot That Is Static Now. Movement Cracked The Foundation And Can Only Be Braced. A Proper Fix Would Have To Dismantle The Entire Ride. Too Expensive They Said

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#27

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

Jessica_Kate_91 Report

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StellaLehggs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The art department at my college was connected to the architecture building, and they were the ugliest buildings on campus. The bathrooms were small and dark, the lighting was horrible throughout, the elevator would frequently stop a few inches above the floor and was slow as hell, which meant that more often than not, you were hauling projects and art supplies up a narrow flight of stairs. 😑

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#30

People-Share-Architects-Designers-Biggest-Mistakes-Struggles

youfoundbethany Report

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Ellie Rosser
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also dishwashers! It's bad enough having to bend down to load one (really, can't the top be higher than the bench without causing armageddon?) but when you have to twist as well to reach the place where dirty dishes are stored before going in then that's just beyond irritating. Also, if I can't walk past it when the door is open I am not happy.

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